ULA Atlas V Launches NRO Payload

22 May 2014
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station this morning at 9:09 a.m. EDT, carrying a National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) military payload. Many of the details surrounding Thursday’s launch, such as the type of satellite being deployed, are classified. The rocket is believed to have headed East after liftoff, flying over the Atlantic, which could suggest that the Atlas will be targeting a geosynchronous transfer orbit, the only low-inclination orbit generally used for NRO payloads of this size. AIAA congratulates ULA, an AIAA corporate member, on the successful launch. (Image Credit: Wikipedia / NASA/Kim Shiflett)More Info > (NASA Spaceflight)